4. “This HAS to Stop”: The Psychology of Bullying and Strategies for Preventing It | 2024

Understanding Bullying Behaviour and Practical Strategies for Preventing It

One of the most distressing and destructive experiences a child can have is to be bullied. Bullying can be subtle, very damaging and be tough to spot, particularly with technology and social media. However, a Teacher can have a hugely positive role in the prevention of and intervention in bullying behaviour, with positive effects for the child being bullied, the bully themselves, and the group dynamic.

The aim of this course is to use the Actualise Academy Model of Neuroscience, Clinical/Emotional Psychology and Behavioural Science to introduce teachers to the cognitive, emotional and behavioural factors that can help us understand why bullying occurs, and how we can intervene to stop and prevent it.

Topics covered include the brain in bullying, social connection, cyber-bullying and technology, and school-wide behaviour support, alongside very practical tips and strategies foe Teachers to apply.

Our comprehensive lesson plans and resources provide you and your students with the strategies and support you need to understand and prevent bullying, promoting a school-wide positive behaviour environment.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Here is a list of the modules in this course, with the learning outcomes of each. We also build in School Self Evaluation into all courses, making the SSE Process as smooth as possible:

Module 1: Bullying, Empathy & The Brain. Participants will learn:

  • Understand the Neuroscience and brain areas related to empathy and how this impacts upon bullying behaviour
  • Consider the role of the fight or flight response in bullying interactions

Module 2: Bullying & Social Connection. Participants will learn:

  • Understand the influence of social connection and social intelligence as a preventative strategy for bullying.
  • Understand the role of status and peer to peer influence in bullying behaviour.

Module 3: Cyberbullying & The Effects Of Technology Participants will learn:

  • This module involves interviews with experts on cyber-bullying and outlines best practice guidelines for teachers & schools.
  • Participants will understand the risk factors and preventative strategies required.

Module 4: School-wide Behaviour Support 1. Participants learn:

  • The research basis for School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support
  • The primary preventative strategies for reducing bullying across school environments.
  • Strategies and approaches using social and emotional intelligence for improving student outcomes.

Module 5: School-wide Behaviour Support 2. Participants will learn:

  • The research basis for School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support
  • The primary preventative strategies for reducing bullying across school environments.
  • Strategies and approaches using social and emotional intelligence for improving student outcomes


Additional Resources Available With This Course:

Additional resources include lesson plans, bullying tips, classroom poster, charades and puzzles for children to learn from, strategy documents and much more.

"I loved your course and its content and especially the resources - which really are what teachers want out of these courses - practical ideas. Thanks so much for the hard work in preparing the content, so relevant and useful! Many thanks again:)"

- Ms. Gillian Scanlon

Your Instructor


Rosemary Keane PhD DPscyh Sc (Clin Psych)
Rosemary Keane PhD DPscyh Sc (Clin Psych)

Dr. Rosemary Keane is a Senior Clinical Psychologist at Beuamont Hospital. Rose has a number of years of experience working with a broad range of different clinical groups across the lifespan.

She completed clinical training (Doctorate in Psychological Science) at University College Dublin (UCD). As part of this her doctoral thesis focused on emotional over- and under-control in adults with psychiatric difficulties and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)/Radically Open DBT informed group interventions. Rose also has a PhD in Psychology (National University of Ireland, Galway) focusing on acceptance in chronic pain from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) framework.

Rose is passionate about working together with individuals and families to understand the biopsychosocial factors affecting behaviour and functioning and compassionately applying evidence based and personalised interventions. She has a special interest in applications of functional QEEG assessment and neurofeedback training. Rose is also a member of Mental Health Advisory Board of the charity A Lust For Life.


Frequently Asked Questions


Are the Actualise Academy Courses approved by the DES for EPV days?
Yes, all 10 courses are approved for EPV days. The courses (20 hours) carry the entitlement of 3 EPV days for Primary Teachers.
Is there a limit to how many courses can I do for EPV days?
Yes, the DES has imposed a limit of 5 EPV days in any one year. This 5 day entitlement can be reached by doing any 3 of our courses: 1 ONLINE COURSE entitles you to claim 3 EPV DAYS 2 ONLINE COURSES entitles you to claim 4 EPV DAYS 3 ONLINE COURSES entitles you to claim 5 EPV DAYS
How much do the courses cost?
Courses cost €75 for one, €100 for two and €120 for three.
What are the course completion requirements? How much work is involved?
Courses are run online. Courses consist of a total of 20 hours each, with 20 hours of optional material and resources for you. There will be lots of complementary material for you online too. The course is divided into 5 modules x 4 hours each. Each module module breaks down into some hours of online work (lectures, MCQs) and some offline for self-directed learning (e.g. recommended videos, reading, etc.). You can do the course entirely at your own pace, and can even do it on mobile if you are on the move! Assessment of the course is as follows: 1. Multiple choice questions and short answer questions are interspersed through the 5 modules on each course, and are based on the content you will have just seen; 2. Each module requires a short reflective piece, asking you to think through how you will apply the material you have just learned to your own learning environment; 3. You must engage with the online forums for each course. Please note: You must must complete assignments for each module before moving to the next module.
When can I access my course?
All courses will be accessible from 1st July to 21st August 2020 as per Department of Education guidelines.
How do I access my course?
You can access your course on www.actualiseacademy.com or via the Teachable app.
How do I deal with passwords/logins? I’m not very tech-savvy!
Our new platform is really simple to use, and the whole course runs automatically. It will pick up where you left off before, and it is really intuitive to use.
How much time is required of me?
All EPV courses must be scheduled for 20 hours. In our courses, only some of that time is online, and some is done in your own time offline. with optional work offline, We have also made sure there are lots of practical, complimentary resources available for you.
How will I get my certificate of completion?
Once you successfully complete the course, a certificate will be generated for you within a short time.

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